Self-help technique: awakening a tiger

Today, when the war ruthlessly broke into our lives, we have to change. Internally, externally, bodily, emotionally. Such transitions do not pass out many of us have already experienced the consequences of increasing stress, while others do not even allow the thought of possible self-vulnerability.

Women make contact faster and easier, it is easier for them to talk about their feelings, so almost all appeals to psychologists of our Foundation come from the female audience, while men are no less in dire need of psychological support. And those of them who take part in the fighting, and those of them who support Ukraine.

Staying even for one day in a war zone, and even more so in captivity, is a serious psychological trauma for a person. The depth of this injury depends on how much the individual has enough strength to cope with this situation.

1/3 of people cope with injuries on their own. They have enough of their internal resources. And 2/3 can't cope. They need help, otherwise their injuries can have chronic consequences.

The first reaction to trauma can be either a stupor reaction, or vice versa – a state of psychomotor agitation. In such cases, it is important to be close to the person and help them – to say comforting words, to reassure them, to create an atmosphere of trust and security.

This topic is very complex, but by no means hopeless. Today we want to talk about the famous book by Peter Levin and Anne Frederick: "Tiger Awakening - Healing Trauma", which for many can be useful.

The method of "somatic experience", proposed by the authors, aims to activate, realize and decontaminate bodily traumatic experiences. The essence of the work lies in the fact that in the course of the sensation of bodily reactions, there is an awakening of those natural processes that heal, allowing to release trauma. Bodily feeling actualizes in the person experiencing trauma unfinished traumatic reactions and helps them to end.

It is not always possible to seek help from a psychologist, but almost everyone has the opportunity to apply simple self-help techniques. We offer to take note of one of the simplest exercises of Peter Levin.

Take a light ten-minute pulsating shower daily. After running cool or slightly warm water, substitute your whole body under its pulsating jets.

Fully concentrate your consciousness on the area of the body where rhythmic stimulation is concentrated.

Rotate around your axis, prompting consciousness to move from one part of the body to another.

Press the back of your hands to the shower nozzle; then - palms and wrists; then - the face on both sides, shoulders, armpits, etc.

Try to include all parts of your body in this process: head, forehead, neck, chest, legs, pelvis, sides, hips, bones and feet. Pay attention to the sensations in each of these areas, even if you feel nothing, faced with numbness or even bill.

When doing this, say: "this is my head, neck", etc. "I am glad of your return." A quick and easy slap of different parts of the body will cause you a similar feeling of awakening. This will help restore the feeling of your own body along with the sensations of your skin if you do it regularly for a certain period of time.

This simple exercise will initiate the return of the soul back to the body. This is a very important first step towards restoring the connection between the body, consciousness and spirit, which often appears broken at the first sign of trauma.